The Reagan Diaries

by Ronald Reagan

  [Met with Representatives Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and John McKernan (R-ME) regarding subsidized imports from Canada; hosted dinner for Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, noted that no business was discussed, talk was mostly of show business stories; Mrs. Reagan on trip west.]

  Wednesday, March 13

  A tough meeting with Mac Baldridge. He’s pushing his idea of a consolidation of the International Trade Rep. & the Dept. of Commerce. I felt I had to say no even though I lean that way. Don R. is moving to re do our Cabinet Councils & I want to see how Mac’s plan looks when that is finished.

  Henry Kissinger came by for lunch along with Don R. & Bud. Naturally we talked a lot about the Soviet situation. He agreed I was right not to go to the funeral. He believes my attitude has put us in the best position we’ve ever been in to make progress with them.

  [Short speech to American Business Conference; desk work done; cocktails with several Republican senators, termed it “Arm twisting for MX.”]

  Thursday, March 14

  Ryan came by with a plan for distributing surplus left over from Inaugural. I don’t think anyone has ever done [what] we’re doing with that $3½ mil. One mil. will be given to the fund in the Treasury for reducing the Nat. debt. Then the rest is doled out to scores of worthy programs from one end of the country to the other.

  [Addressed Magazine Publishers Association; desk work in the afternoon; greeted youthful hero from Cleveland mentioned in entry of February 26, also W.H. Marine guards; videotapings; cocktail party to press for MX with Democratic senators.]

  Maureen is back from Vienna with astounding tales of the 3-day meeting preparing for the World Conf. on Women in Nairobi in July. Even here the Soviets were obstructionists.

  Friday, March 15

  [Saw film in preparation for upcoming meeting with President Raúl Alfonsín of Argentina; NSC meeting regarding trip to Canada; Irish Ambassador brought gifts for St. Patrick’s Day.]

  Dick Wirthlin came in with the usual mix of good news & here & there a little bad. Our communications on Nicaragua have been a failure, 90% of the people know it is a communist country but almost as many don’t want us to give the Contras $14 mil. for weapons. I have to believe it is the old Vietnam syndrome. They are afraid we’re going to get involved with troops, etc.

  Nancy did well—an approval rating of 83% & rated higher than the last 7 1st ladies. She’ll be home soon—in fact here she is! Thank you Lord.

  Saturday, March 16

  No Camp David this week—we’re off to Canada tomorrow. Did my radio bit on the forthcoming trip. Ted Graber is here. Mermie & Dennis left for Calif. yesterday. I spent the day wood shedding for the meetings. Sometimes I think they try to tell me more than I need to know.

  It’s less than 3 weeks to Calif. & the ranch & I’m ready. The press is once again doing their psycho job on the new Soviet boss, Gorbachev & whether I should see him or not.

  I’ve issued him an invitation so the ball is in his court. In the meanwhile the negotiations on arms reductions are underway in Geneva.

  Sunday, March 17

  [Flew to Canada for meeting with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney; formal reception.]

  At the hotel he & I had a meeting, one-on-one & then a press appearance where we made statements re acid rain. He told me of his meeting with Gorbachev in which I was the subject of conversation. I must say he is truly a friend—he went to bat for me with our Soviet friend in no uncertain way.

  [Dinner party and entertainment.]

  Monday, March 18

  A morning of meetings then a lunch where I made a speech on Am. Canadian relationship—well received. On to the Citadel for the signing of several agreements, treaties, etc. & to the airport & home. I have to believe U.S.—Canadian relations have never been better & certainly not at the leader level. Brian M. & I have really established a warm personal friendship. He will be a welcome new comer to the Bonn Summit. Back home. Funny, we were only gone overnight—about 30 hours total but arriving home seems like we were gone 3 days.

  Tuesday, March 19

  [Briefing for visit by President Raúl Alfonsín of Argentina, then greeted him on South Lawn.]

  In our meeting he brought up a variety of issues. I reassured him that we weren’t planning mil. intervention in Nicaragua. He voiced concerns about the Chilean situation.

  The violence there is communist caused. I agreed with him on that. He has great financial problems & is seeking a large “bridging loan.” I don’t know what we can do to help him on that. All in all though it was a good meeting. Sen. Mac Mathias came to the office. I was able to clear up a question he had on the MX & he’ll be with us. Then over to the Capitol for lunch with the Sen. Repub. Policy group. Think I did some good on MX in a Q&A session. Back at the Oval O. a series of meetings with Congressmen on MX. Think we made some gains. Then the phone call came—M.X. passed in the Senate 55 to 45. Ten Demos. voted yes, 8 Repubs. voted no. The State dinner was an enjoyable evening. Doug Flutie the Heisman trophy winner was at my table. He’s a fine young man. With a $7 mil. contract in his pocket he’s going back to school to get his degree. Pete Fountain entertained. It was a wonderful evening of Bourbon St. jazz.

  Wednesday, March 20

  [Decided to make William “Bill” Brock secretary of Labor and announced it to the press; meetings with congressmen pressing for passage of MX bill.]

  A group of Rabbi’s—Am. Rabbinical Reps. here on a meeting to promote freedom of Jews in the Soviet to Emigrate, came by & presented me with a book on, among other things, the Passover. I told them how much I shared their concern & asked them to understand why my efforts had to be quiet but the efforts are there. George S. came by with Bud & we talked about “Quiet Diplomacy”—the need to lean on the Soviets but to do so one on one—not in the papers. Over to the family theatre for briefing—press conf. tomorrow night.

  Thursday, March 21

  Was shown the photo recently taken by the bastards who are holding our kidnap victims in Lebanon. Heartbreaking, there is no question but that they are being badly treated. The day was filled with meetings—Congressmen (mainly democratic) on the MX. I’m worried—just rcvd. word it looks like we’re behind in the House. Some wanted to argue that I should spring for a tax just dedicated to defense spending. Briefed for press conference & then at 8 P.M. the press. The conference went well although I think their questions were kind of dull.

  Friday, March 22

  [Report on armed services from the Joint Chiefs, considered to be in prime shape.]

  An almost 2 hour lunch in the White House with our Repub. Sen. leadership. The subject was the Senates budget committee version of the budget vs. ours. They want deeper cuts in defense but they use them to add back cuts we want to make in domestic spending. They also want to suggest a freeze on the Soc. Security “Colas.” Finally I raised a little h--l. To go to the Dem. House & have Repubs. suggesting a cut in S.S. is to give the Dems. the issue they want for ’86. I told them I could give in on S.S. Colas but it had to come from the Dems. On defense I reminded them if they went in with our bottom line—the Demos. are going to reduce whatever we bring in so leave a little padding to protect our bottom line. Also if we are going to give in on further defense cuts—then it’s trade off that it must be in addition to our domestic cuts—it can’t be a replacement for them.

  George S. & I had a short meeting about getting more active in the Middle East talks. I’m all for it.

  [Signed proclamation on skin cancer prevention; greeted Camp Fire Girls, noted, “I was made an honorary Camp Fire Girl—& I didn’t have to go to Sweden for an operation”; photo sessions with appointees; interview for program on Gridiron Club; dinner with Edmund Morris, biographer of Theodore Roosevelt. Saturday, March 23: met with Special Olympians; settled on budget compromise with Regan, Weinberger, Shultz, Stockman, and several senators; attended Gridiron dinner.]

  Sunday, March 24

  A busy day at home—phone calls re MX & homework. Sixty Minutes had segment fea
turing the Carters—I got a pretty good going over.

  Monday, March 25

  Awakened at 7 A.M. by Bud M. An American Major based in East Germany was shot by a Soviet guard in what has to be called murder. The Major was one of 14 U.S. military in East G.—the Soviets have 14 in W. Germany. Our man was only doing what both sides are permitted—indeed are supposed to do. The sentry opened fire—they kept the Sgt. pinned down so he couldn’t get to the Major (37 yrs. old) & administer 1st aid. The Soviet medics arrived one hour later. The Major had died.

  [Annual press breakfast; noted that Max Kampelman, arriving from talks in Geneva, spent the day lobbying congressmen on the MX; meeting with more than one hundred Central American leaders, commented, “They can really lift your morale”; launched effort to allow lower minimum wages for teens in summer jobs; more campaigning on behalf of MX.]

  Tuesday, March 26

  Again started the day lobbying Congressmen on MX. Then an NSPG meeting re Afghanistan. We are really delivering help to the Afghans who are fighting the Soviets. […] I have approved keeping this aid at its present high level.

  Then presented the gold Congressional medal posthumously to Harry Truman by way of his daughter Margaret. Harry was the last Dem. President I campaigned for.

  Had lunch in the office with the Donovan family—his wife & children plus a fiancé of one of his sons. I pray that N.Y. court will clear him but I fear the less than honorable intentions of N.Y.’s courts & prosecutors. I have every confidence in Ray’s innocence.*

  Then other than hours of phoning any number of Congressmen on MX we had a reception in the East room for our Victory 84 Committee. Then up to watch the House MX debate & vote on TV. We won by 6 votes. Right does triumph. Tomorrow I believe they will vote the appropriation for the missiles & that will be it. We lost 24 Repubs. but got the votes of 61 Demos.

  Wednesday, March 27

  A happy atmosphere—what with yesterday’s vote on MX. Have learned Tip is asking Demos to vote against aid to the Contras as a farewell gift to him since he’s retiring in 86.

  P.R.C. Ambass. Zhang Wenjin came by to say goodbye. He’s on his way back to China & retirement. We’ve had a good relationship with him.

  [Meeting with Jeane Kirkpatrick, who expressed herself willing to come back if the administration needed her help again; cabinet meeting on anti-drug actions; lunch with technology inventors; economic briefing, a lull in recovery detected; meeting with Shultz who suggested former Senator Nicholas Brady (R-NJ) as replacement for departing deputy secretary of state Ken Dam, president approved; signing ceremony; photo session; received new magazine, Commerce in Space; telephoned gratitude to Democrats who voted for MX.]

  Thursday, March 28

  Off to N.Y.—breakfast on the plane. I opened the N.Y. Stock Exchange—a brief speech & rang the bell at 10 A.M. I was amazed at the reception. They were cheering like it was a political rally. Then upstairs to talk to & answer Q.’s from the 650 or so board members. I was told I’m the only sitting Pres. who has ever visited the place.

  Then it was off to St. Johns U. & again I was a first. What a morale booster that was—1000’s of students telling me they loved me—cheering every other word. On the way back to Kennedy Airport Max F. got Don Regan, who was with me, on our car phone to give us the count on the House vote for MX (the all important 2nd vote). We slowed the convoy down so we could have the final vote before we met the press at plane side. With about 1 min. to spare—word came—we won 217 to 210. I greeted the press with the news.

  Tip O’Neill had told me he would vote against it but that was a matter of conscience & that he would not try to persuade anyone else to vote with him. There are witnesses to his statement. But right down to the wire he twisted arms, threatened punishment of the 61 Dems. who went with us—in short he was playing pure partisan politics all the way.

  [Friday, March 29: lunch with the National Space Club; said farewell to Vice President Bush’s chief-of-staff; went to Camp David. Saturday, March 30: ride canceled due to weather; homework and reading. Sunday, March 31: foggy day.]

  Monday, April 1

  Late to office—Cap called—upset by Soviet Ambassador’s appearance on TV last nite after visit to St. Dept. He was smiling & jovial while he was talking about the murder of our Major Nicholson. Frankly I saw it & I was too.

  Met with Pres. Niemeri of Sudan—he’s O.K. I think we’re going to be able to help him. Quadaffi’s giving him a bad time. Issues lunch—nothing of world shaking note. Lyn N. came by, he’s been representing us in Europe re our walkout of UNESCO. Needed a little guidance—do we want back in, etc. I explained he was simply to observe whether any effort is being made to clean up their act. If so then we’ll see whether we want in. No effort is being made & it looks like Eng., Japan & some others may follow us out. My favorite paper??!! The Wash. Post came by for an interview—Cannon & Hoffman plus an editor. I don’t think I gave them anything to run with.

  [Photo session; received gifts, including “a magnificent painting of me”; met family with children suffering from Ushers syndrome; farewell for Jeane Kirkpatrick; videotapings. Tuesday, April 2: visit from Prime Minister Turgut Özal of Turkey, noted, “We got along fine—better than I could get along with the P.M. of Greece”; addressed the leaders of Associated General Contractors; celebrated presidential advisor John McCloy’s ninetieth birthday, president of West Germany and mayor of Berlin present; ambassadorial formalities; reception for Presidential Trust Fund; dinner with Republican Eagles.]

  Wednesday, April 3

  [Met with Republican congressional leadership on the budget.]

  Lord Carrington (NATO) came by. He’s done a good job of tightening up the Alliance. He’s concerned somewhat about our S.D.I. & I believe it’s because of the possibility that without our nuclear shield the Soviets will pose a threat because of their superiority in Conventional weapons.

  In N.S.C. we’re putting together an idea for trying to frame our spending request to Congress for the Contras in Nicaragua in connection with peace proposals. I don’t believe the Dem. House will vote us the money just on a straight up or down basis. Tip O’Neill & Bob Michel came in—they are talking a bi-partisan Cong. group to the Soviet U. Just wanted a last min. briefing & our blessing. Gave them both. Geo. S. stayed on after & told me of a possible meeting I could have with King Hussein whose son is graduating from Brown U. Then a meeting with activities on subject of missing children. I’ve asked them to come up with a partnership—everyone joining in & to bring in a plan for same within 3 weeks.

  Thursday, April 4

  Ambas. Mike Mansfield (Japan) is home on leave. He came by & is as distressed as I am over some of the Reps. & Sens. who are hysterically ranting about a trade war with Japan. The truth is we’ve made substantial gains in getting Japan to open her markets. A big factor in this is the best P.M. Japan has ever had—Yasu Nakasone. I hope he’ll get some press on what he has to say—whoops I mean Ambas. Mansfield. The new Nat. Champs—Villanova’s Basketball Team came to the Rose Garden. I wound up with a jacket.

  Then Pres. Betancurt of Colombia arrived—we had a good meeting. He’s done a great job of cracking down on the drug trade. We told him of our peace plan for Nicaragua. He’s enthusiastic about it & is going to stop off in Nicaragua tonite on his way home to meet with Ortega.

  At 3 P.M. I went before the press & outlined the plan to them. At 4 P.M. Don Regan went before them & told of our budget plan. Yes we finally worked it out with the Sen. Earlier Don had told me our Sens. were mad because I wouldn’t agree to a freeze on the Soc. Security “Cola” [COLA]. My beef is that the Dems. should be made to propose this. If we do it they’ll base the ’86 campaign on us being the enemies of Soc. Security. I told Don I’d agree to a compromise—a 2% raise each yr. for 3 yrs. regardless of the level of inflation. They bought it.

  [Visit by Jack Anderson to report on progress of Young Astronauts program; received Oscar in recognition of the administration’s Arts program; met with
premier of Bermuda; presented Cancer Foundation award; met with Nicholas Ashford of the Times of London; photo session.]

  After a haircut I met briefly with 3 leaders of the Contras—Cruz, Robelo & Carello. All these men were leaders against Somoza & helped overthrow him. Then the Sandinistas double crossed them & stole the revolution for Cuba & the Soviets. They were here to be briefed on our peace proposal. Tip O’Neill & his cohorts are already bad-mouthing the idea. Indeed Tip sounds irrational.

  Tomorrow on to Calif.

  Friday, April 5–Sunday, April 14

  [Coffee with senators and staff members to express thanks for work on budget compromise; flew to ranch in California. Saturday, April 6: too foggy for outdoor activities.]

  On Sunday (Easter) the day was beautiful as was every day including Sun. the 14th—get away day.

  Ron & Doria & C.Z. Wick came up for the afternoon & dinner on Easter. Bud McFarlane also spent part of day filling Ron in on the Soviet U. Ron has a mag. assignment to do a story on May Day in Moscow.

  The rest of the vacation was as usual—beautiful weather, a horseback ride every morning & wood cutting & brush hauling with Barney & Dennis in the afternoons. There were some new additions—a day when Roy Miller & Fred Fielding came up with our Inc. Tax forms. […] Then on 2 different days we interviewed applicants for Lee’s job—hired one Courtney Trissler. He was Henry Mudd’s foreman back when we had neighboring ranches in the Malibu mountains.

  During most of the week—the press had a field day assailing me because I’d accepted Helmut Kohl’s invitation to visit a German mil. cemetery during our visit to Bonn. I had turned down a not official invite from a W. German politician to visit Dachau in his district. All of this was portrayed as being willing to honor former Nazi’s but trying to forget the Holocaust. Helmut had in mind observing the end of WW II anniversary as the end of hatred & the beginning of friendship & peace that has lasted 40 yrs.